pagan (etymology) – from Latin for villager, rustic. Tied to “nature worship” because conservative villagers clung to the old nature gods after the Christianization of Roman towns and cities. (alternate reason for that tie: ‘villager’ was Roman military-slang for an incompetent soldier, and the early church, with its military image, picked up this concept for “those outside the Church Militant”.)

Palimpsest – a manuscript on which more than one text has been written atop an earlier one which, incompletely erased, is visible; also, an object or a place whose older layers or aspects are apparent beneath its surface

palindrome – a word or phrase that reads the same backward as forward

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Palladian – 1. relating to wisdom or study 2. of the neoclassical major architectural style that was extremely popular in 18th century Britain

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Palliate – 1. to mitigate 2. to extenuate [i.e., 1. to make (pain or disease) less severe 2. to make fault or crime seem less severe, with excuses and apologies]

pardoner – one licensed to sell papal pardons (theoretically to raise funds for the church)

paresthesia – an abnormal sensation, as prickling, itching, etc.

Pareto Principle (eponym), or 80/20 rule – often, 80% of the result comes from 20% of the work or other input

parhelion – a bright spot in the sky, often in pairs on either side of the sun, thus forming a “triple sun”. Caused by atmospheric ice crystals. ( A parhelion is also called a sun-dog. The same phenomenon with the moon is called a paraselene or moon dog.)

parishion – parishioner; a member of a parish. This word died out in the 16th century, but it is an answer to the quiz, “Name 3 words ending in – shion: cushion, fashion, and ____.” See also hushion, fushion.

Park Avenue – the world of those who are ultra-rich in both money and social standing

Parkinson’s Law – eponym: the principle, “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.”

Parnassus – 1. the world of poetry or poets: a rhymester striving to enter Parnassus 2. a center of poetry or artistic activity 3. a collection of poems

parody – a literary composition imitating (and esp. one satirizing) another work. Also, by extension: a poor or feeble imitation; a travesty

paronomasia – punning. more specifically, the form of pun based on using two different words of same or similar sound. (contrast antanaclasis, syllepsis, zeugma)

parricide – the killing of [or the killer of] one’s own parent – usually the father – or other near relative

parsimonious – excessively sparing or frugal

parthenian – virginal

parthenogenesis – the ability of unfertilized eggs to develop into embryos without sperm. Very common in snails and water fleas, but not in higher vertebrates.

parturient – in labor; about to give birth (parturition – the action of giving birth; childbirth)

paruresis – “bashful kidney”

pashmina – mountain goats in the Himalayas; also, the fine wool from them, used for pashmina scarves and shawls

pasquinade – eponym: a satire or lampoon, esp. one ridiculing a specific person. verb: to ridicule with a pasquinade

passacaglia – an old Italian or Spanish dance tune in ¾ measure, like a chaconne but slower

passe-partout – a master key. by extension: something that allows one to pass or go at will

passerine – (of birds) with feet adapted to perching (technically, of a particular order of perching birds)

pasteurize – [eponym] to partially sterilize (esp. milk or other liquid) by heat to destroy germs without a major chemical change in the substance

pastille – a troche; that is, a medicated lozenge used to soothe the throat

pastinaceous – having to do with parsnips

patella – the bone on the knee [from Latin for “pan,” its shape]

patent troll – a company that purchases a patent simply to sue another, claiming infringement

patronymic – adj. and noun: of a name derived from one’s father or paternal ancestor

pavilion – (originally, a butterfly) a large and ornate tent. But more commonly applied structures of greater permanence, as a light roofed structure ( picnic pavilion), a solid but temporary structure ( a pavilion at the World’s Fair), a sports/entertainment arena, or a building within a complex (as a hospital).

Yoked to music at Picnic 🙂

pavlovian – eponym: being or expressing a conditioned or predictable reaction; automatic

pavonine – with the iridescence of a peacock’s tail. (also, “peacock-like”, in the manner of such words as canine, feline, etc.)

pawl [pronounced like pall] – a hinged bar whose free end engages the teeth of a ratchet wheel, allowing it to turn in one direction only

pawn – a person without real power, used (manipulated) by others for their own purposes [term evolved from the game of chess]

paxwax – the neck tendon (properly, the nuchal ligament)

peccadillo – a small sin or fault

pecksniffian – eponym: hypocritically benevolent; sanctimonious.

peculation – embezzlement

pecunious – abounding in money; wealthy; rich

pedant – a person who overrates, or over-displays, book-learning or technical knowledge

pedantic – exaggeratedly, unseasonably, or absurdly learned

pedigree – literally “foot of a crane”. On a genealogical chart, the group of lines branching from a person to his or her descendants looks rather like the footprint of a crane.

pentimento – a visible trace of the artist’s earlier version, showing through when the upper layers of the paint have become translucent with age. ( In effect, the “painting behind the painting”, showing where the artist “changed his mind” and changed his work.)

penultimate – next-to-last

penumbra – 1. a partial shadow (blocked from some but not all light sources and their parts) between regions of complete shadow and complete illumination2. figurative extension: a. an adjoining region in which something shades off into lessened intensely [the penumbra of the downtown] b. something that partially covers, surrounds, or obscures

peony shell – fireworks: a spherical burst firework, in which the stars do not leave a trail

perfecta – a bet where the bettor must name the top two finishers, in order (also called exacta)

pergola – a frame structure with a latticework roof, to support climbing plants

periclitate – to endanger

periscian – an inhabitant of either of the polar regions

peristerophily – love of, or collecting of, pigeons [not in OED; in Mrs. Bryne and some other private dictionaries]

peroration – the concluding part of an oration; especially, a final summing up of an argument. perorate – to so conclude a speech; also, to speak at great

length, esp. in a grandiloquent manner

perse – dark grayish blue

perseity – medieval philosophy: the quality of having substance independently of any real object

persiflage – friendly banter or frivolous conversation (persifleur – one who indulges in persiflage; a banterer) [From French, but there it means to mock, to ridicule. The root is siffler, to hiss, akin to sibilant.]

Peter Principle – eponym; coinage: the principle that those in a hierarchy are promoted until they reach the level at which they are no longer competent (at which point promotion ceases). Thus each position is eventually filled by an incompetent.

peterman – a safebreaker

petitio principii – the logical fallacy of assuming in the premises what one wishes to prove in the conclusion

petrel – a type of seabird

petticoat government – rule by, or undue predominance or influence of women in domestic, political, or public life

pettifoggery – quibbling; argument over petty points

phaeton – eponym: a touring car

phalacrosis – typical male pattern baldness

phantasmagoria – a fantastic sequence of haphazardly associative imagery, as in a dreams; a bizarre or fantastic combination, collection, or assemblage

pharisee – a self-righteous or sanctimonious person

phat – excellent; first-rate: phat fashion; a phat rapper. ( it is well understood to have arisen as an acronym for Pretty Hot and Tempting [or “Tasty”.)

phatic – relating to speech used to share feelings or to establish a sociable mood, rather than to communicate information or ideas. “How are you? Lovely day, isn’t it?”

pickthank – a sycophant; a yes-man (one who would steal your gratitude and pick a thank)

Pickwickian – eponym: (of a word) intended or taken “in a sense other than the obvious or literal one” (M-W) or “in an idiosyncratic or unusual way: a word used in a Pickwickian manner.” (AHD) But it seems more exact to define it as “used to mean the opposite of what it would literally seem”.

pictograph – 1. a picture representing a word or idea; a hieroglyph 2. a pictorial representation of numerical data, esp. a graph having each value represented by a proportional number of pictures

pie (etymology) – see Archives

pie wagon – a police van; a van used to transport prisoners to jail

piebald – with patches of black and white (or less frequently, other colors)

platonic – eponym: of a relationship marked by the absence of romance or sex; purely spiritual or ideal

playa – a temporary lake after rain; the desert basin, barren and salty, where that lake forms

plebeian – one of the common people or lower classes; also, a coarse, crude, or vulgar person. (adj: of or pertaining to the common people; also, vulgar;

common; crude or coarse)

plenipotentiary – adj: invested with full power and authority. noun: a diplomat having such power

pleonasm – redundancy in language (“I saw it with my own eyes”). often used to refer to a redundant name, as “PIN Number”, where the N in “PIN” means

“number”

plethora – an over-abundance: not problematic, but more than required. (Some dictionaries give as a secondary meaning an abundance, not necessarily over- abundance.) Our users add that ‘plethora’ applies only to countable things

plexure – a plaiting or interweaving

pliant – (noun: pliancy) easily influenced or swayed; pliable

plimsoll line – eponym: a line on the side of a ship; it is overloaded and unsafe the Plimsoll line sinks below the waterline

plinth (also here) – a heavy architectural base, as for supporting a statue or vase [cognate with flint]

plog – a web-based tool used by colleagues to keep tabs on group projects

plonk – Brit/Aus slang: cheap, inferior wine

plunger – the buttons upon which a telephone headset rests when it is hung up; more generally, a machine part that operates with a thrusting or plunging movement

pluton – a body of igneous rock formed beneath the surface of the earth by consolidation of magma

poetaster – a poet who writes insignificant, tawdry or shoddy poetry; an inferior rhymer; a rhymester

Pogglethrope – one gleefully taking joy in self-satisfaction, like a clucking strutting hen. [Not in dictionary; a wonderful coinage, reported 1871, which unfortunately did not catch on.]

pogonotrophy – the care and feeding of beards [ Also pogonic – relating to beards; pogonologist – a writer on beards; pogonology – a treatise on beards;

pogonotomy – the cutting of the beard; shaving]

poison pill (corporate takeovers) – an corporation’s arrangement that an attempted takeover of it will trigger certain events – the events being ones that make the takeover less attractive

polemology – the study of war, esp. as an academic discipline

political football – from US football: a problem or issue that is discussed among groups or persons without being settled. often with the sense that groups are keeping the issue unresolved to be used for political benefit.

politicaster – a petty politician; a pretender or dabbler in politics

Pollyanna – eponym: a person of irrepressible optimism, finding good in everything

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polyandry – multiple husbands

polygamy – multiple spouses

polyglot – 1. a book with the same text in different languages (esp. the Bible) 2. someone who can speak multiple languages 3. a confusion of languages. adj. – speaking or writing, or written in, several languages

polygyny – multiple wives

polyhistor – a person with broad knowledge (contrast polymath)

polymastia – the condition of having more than the usual (two) breasts

polymath – a person of great or varied learning (contrast polyhistor)

polysemy – use of the same word is listed as having several senses: cut the grass, cut the cake, cut the budget, cut classes

polysyndeton – use of repeated conjunctions for rhetorical effect: “here and there and everywhere”.(contrast asyndeton)

purl stitch – one of the two basic stitches in knitting (the other being the knit stitch). For details, see archives.

purloin – to steal

purple prose – prose that is too ornate

purpure – purple

pursy – fat and short of breath (see fussock)

putative – commonly thought or deemed; supposed; reputed: the putative father of a child

putto (plural putti) – a representation of a naked child, especially a cherub or a cupid

pyromancy – divination by fire [dictionary at mancy lists 54 form of divination]

pyroxferroite; pyroxferoite – a mineral of the proxene (‘stranger’) class, not of earth, found on the moon

pyrrhic victory – eponym: a victory won at an excessive costs that outweigh the benefits

pyrrhonism – eponym: extreme skepticism; universal doubt

pyx – the container in which the wafer of the Eucharist is kept (also: a chest in a mint in which specimen coins are placed to await assay)

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pabouche a slipperpabulous of, like or pertaining to nourishmentpabulum food; provender; nourishmentpacable able to be appeased; willing to forgivepace contrary to the opinion of; in respectful disagreement withpachydermia elephantiasispachyglossal thick-tonguedpachymeter instrument for measuring small thicknessespachynsis thickeningpaciferous peace-bringingpacificate to give peace topactolian like or having golden-hued sandspadella shallow dish of fat with a wick used in illuminationspadrone innkeeper; employerpadronism system of obtaining labour through employment agentspaduasoy corded silkpaean song of thanksgivingpaedarchy government by childrenpaedobaptism doctrine of infant baptismpaedocracy government by children; paedarchypaedogenesis reproduction by an infant or larval organismpaedology study of childrenpaedonymic name taken from one’s childpaedophage eater of childrenpaedophilia abnormal love or sexual attraction for childrenpaedophobia fear of children; fear of dollspaedotrophy art of rearing childrenpaginal of, like or pertaining to pages or paginationpagophagia eating trays of ice to help offset iron deficiencypaideutic educational method or theorypaidonosology study of children’s diseases; pediatricspaillette a spanglepais people from whom a jury is drawnpaisley soft wool fabric with ornamental patternpaizogony necking; love-playpalabra a word; talkpalaceous spade-shapedpalaeoanthropology study of early humanspalaeobiology study of fossil plants and animalspalaeoclimatology study of ancient climatespalaeogaea the Old World as a biological regionpalaeogeography study of ancient geographypalaeography study of ancient writing or inscriptionspalaeolimnology study of ancient fish or lakespalaeopedology study of early soilspalaeophile antiquarianpalaeosophy ancient learning or thoughtpalaeotypography early typographypalaestra wrestling school; gymnasiumpalaetiology application of principles of causation to past eventspalafitte prehistoric lake dwellingpalamate having webbed feetpalanquin light litter for one passengerpalatine having royal authority over a regionpalative pleasing to the taste or to the palatepalatography recording position of tongue against hard palate during speechpalaver to talk profusely or idlypaleaceous chaffy; like or resembling chaffpaleobotany study of ancient plantspaleo-osteology study of ancient bonespaletot loose overcoatpalette small plate covering the armpit joint in a suit of armourpalewise (of heraldic charges) oriented verticallypalfrenier groompalfrey riding horse, especially one for a ladypalification the act of strengthening with stakespaliform shaped like a stakepalilalia disorder characterized by rapid repetition of wordspalillogy repetition of a word or word or phrasepalimbacchius metrical foot of two long and one short syllablepalimpsest manuscript or paper that is erased and then written overpalingenesis new birth; reincarnation; second creationpalingman seller of fish or eelspalinode poem in which earlier thoughts or feelings are retractedpalinola compulsive repetition of an act until it is perfectpalinspastic showing geological formations of an area as they existed in the pastpalisade fence of stakes used for defensive purposespall covering cloth laid upon Communion chalicepalladian of, like or pertaining to wisdom or learningpallasethesia sense of vibrationpallescent turning palepalliament white robe or gownpalliasse straw mattresspalliate to ease with out curing; to extenuatepallid pale; wanpallium white woollen band symbolising archbishop’s authoritypallograph instrument measuring ship’s vibrationpalmar of, like or pertaining to the palmpalmarian pre-eminentpalmary principal; meritoriouspalmate hand-shapedpalmiped web-footedpalpebral of, like or pertaining to the eyelidpalpebration winkingpalter to trifle in talk; to use trickery; to equivocatepaltock short coat or doublet worn under armourpaltripolitan term of scorn applied to city-dwellers or urban lifepaludal of, like or pertaining to marshes; marshy; malarialpaludicolous growing in marshes; marsh-dwellingpaludism marsh fever; malariapaludose marshy; living in marshespalynology study of pollenpalzogony love-play; foreplaypam card game in which jack of club has highest valuepamphysicism doctrine that material nature is the source of all thingspampiniform like a tendrilpanaceist believer in panaceaspanaesthesia totality of perception; general awarenesspanaesthetism theory that consciousness may inhere generally in matterpanarchy universal rule or dominionpanary of, like or pertaining to bread; bread storepanatella long; thin cigarpanchion coarse earthenware panpanchreston panaceapancosmism theory that the material universe is all that existspancratic excelling all round in athletics or accomplishmentspancyclopaedic encyclopaedicpandation warpingpandect treatise covering the whole of a subjectpandemian vulgar; sensualpandemic universal; affecting majority of people in a regionpandemonism worship of spirits dwelling in all forms of naturepandiculation the act of stretching and yawningpandora musical instrument like a lutepanduriform fiddle-shapedpanegoism solipsism–panegyricon collection of sermons for Orthodox church festivalspanegyry grand assembly; religious festivalpaneity the state of being breadpanentheism belief that world is part but not all of God’s beingpangamy random or unrestricted matingpangeometry extension of geometry to more than three dimensionsPanglossian overly optimisticpangolin scaly insectivorous mammal with elongated snoutpangram sentence containing all the letters of the alphabetpanharmonicon mechanical musical instrument operated by a cylinderpanhygrous moist in all partspanification conversion into breadpanivorous bread-eatingpanjandrum imaginary potentate of great power and self-importancepanlogism belief that only that which is rational is truly realpanmixia cessation of the influence of natural selectionpanmnesia belief that all mental impressions are stored in memorypannage food picked up by swine in woods; right to pasture swinepanne heavy lustrous silk or rayon with waxy feelpannicle thin sheet-like vestmentpannier provision-basket; basket carried over one’s backpannikin small metal cuppannose like feltpannychis all-night vigil in preparation for Orthodox church feastpanomphaean all-oracularpanophobia melancholia marked by groundless fearspanoply complete suit of armourpanoptic all-embracing; viewing all aspectspanopticon prison where all inmates can be watched from one pointpanpharmacon universal remedypanplain flat area consisting of several joined floodplainspanpsychism theory that all nature has a psychic sidepanpygoptosis shortness of the legspansexualism theory that all thought derived from sexual instinctpansophy universal knowledgepanspermatism belief in origin of life from extraterrestrial germspantagamy universal bachelorhood; free lovepantagruelian marked by extravagant and coarse satirepantaleon large dulcimerpantarchy government by all the people; world governmentpantechnicon receptacle holding many miscellaneous objectspantheism belief that the universe is God; belief in many godspantisocracy government by all equallypantler officer in a household in charge of breadpantochronometer combined sundial and compasspantoglot speaker of all languagespantograph apparatus connecting streetcar to overhead wirespantograph instrument for copying drawing to a different scalepantography complete or general description of somethingpantology system of universal knowledgepantomnesia remembrance of everything ever learnedpantomorphic taking on all shapespantophagy omnivorousnesspantophobia fear of everythingpantopragmatic meddling in everybody’s businesspantoscope panoramic camerapantosophy universal knowledge; pansophypanurgic good at all kinds of taskspanzoism belief that humans and animals share vital life energypaparchy government by the popepapaverous of, like or pertaining to poppiespapeterie packaged fancy stationery; stationery-casepapilionaceous of, like or pertaining to butterfliespapilla nipple-like projectionpapilliferous bearing papillaepapilliform nipple-shapedpapillose having nipples or papillaepappus downy beginnings of a beardpapren stone passing through a wall from face to facepapulation the development of papillae or pimplespapule pimplepapuliferous pimply; bearing or pertaining to pimplespapyraceous like paper; paperypapyrocracy government by newspapers or literaturepapyrography process of transferring a drawing on paper to a zinc platepapyrology study of paperpapyrotamia manufacture of paper flowersparabasis speech where the chorus advances and addresses audienceparabiosis physical union of two embryos or organismsparablepsis false vision; oversightparabola rhetorical use of simile or metaphorparabolanus layman who tends the sickparabolaster a parabola of a higher degreeparaboliform shaped like a parabolaparabolist teller of parablesparacentral situated near the centreparachronism representation of something as being newer than it isparaclete advocate or intercessor; the Holy Spirit acting in such a roleparacme decline; period following the zenith or acmeparacoita female sexual partnerparacoitus male sexual partnerparacrostic poem whose initial letters reproduce its first verseparacusis disordered hearingparadiastole description of an unfavourable quality through a favourable synonymparadigma rhetorical comparison by resemblance to another thingparadisiacal suggestive of a place or state of perfect blissparados earthworks defending against a rear attackparadoxography description of phenomena considered fantastic or wondrousparadoxology holding or maintaining paradoxesparadromic adjacent; side by sideparaenesis rhetorical expression of advice or warningparaesthesia tingling sensation on the skinparage high birth or rank; equality of birth or statusparagenesis formation of minerals as a joined massparagnosia misunderstandingparagnosis skill in matters immune to scientific investigationparagoge addition of a sound to end of wordparagram play on words in which letters are changedparagraphia writing of different letters and words than intendedparagraphy writing of paragraphsparakinesis production of movement of objects by a spiritualistparalalia abnormality of speech soundsparalipomenon thing left out; added in supplementparalipsis fixing attention on subject by pretending to neglect itparallax seeming change of object position due to observer movingparallelepiped solid figure with each face a parallelogramparallelism belief that matter and mind don’t interact but relateparalogise to reason falselyparalogism false reasoningparamatta worsted and cotton blendparamedian near the middle lineparament rich decoration, hanging or robeparamnesia abnormality of memory; inability to remember meaning of wordparanatellon a star that rises at the same time as another starparanomasia rhetorical art of punningparanym euphemism; word whose meaning altered to conceal evasionparanymph one who solicits for another; best man or bridesmaidparaph flourish under one’s signatureparaphasia disorder in which one word substituted for another–paraphonia alteration of the voice; as at pubertyparaphrast one who paraphrasesparaphraxis inability to perform purposive movements properlyparapraxis blunder; error; mistakeparapsychology study of unexplained mental phenomenapararthria incoherenceparaselene mock moon; bright patch on a lunar haloparasigmatism inability to pronounce the sound ‘s’parasitaster a mean or sorry parasiteparasiticide killing of parasitesparastatal indirectly controlled by the stateparastatic of, like or pertaining to protective mimicry of animalsparasuicide harmful act appearing to be an attempt at suicideparasynesis corruption of forms of wordsparasynthesis derivation of words using hyphenated compoundsparataxis organization of clauses without connectivesparathesis apposition; compounding of words without changeparatonic arresting growthparavail inferior; lowest; of least accountparavane device used to cut underwater cablesparavant in front; first; beforehandparavent wind screenparbreak to vomitparbuckle sling made by wrapping both ends of rope around objectparcel partlyparcenary co-heirshipparciloquy laconic speechparclose railing in church enclosing altar, chapel or tombpardie mild oath; certainly or trulypardine of, like or pertaining to leopardspardoner one who raises money for religious works by selling indulgencesparecbasis rhetorical digression or deviation from expected topicparegmenon repetition of a word or its cognates in a series of wordsparegoric soothing; lessening painparembole insertion of something related to the subject into a phraseparemptosis insertion of something related to the subject into a phraseparentalia feasts or rites in memory of deceased parentsparentelic related by bloodparenticide killing or killer of one’s parentsparergon work undertaken in addition to one’s employmentpareschatology doctrine dealing with matters after death but before the end of the worldparesis omission of an element from a wordpareunia coitusparfay by my faith; verilyparfleche dried buffalo skinparget to plaster over; to cover with ornamental plasterworkparhelion halo-like light seen in sky opposite the sunpari passu side by side; equallyparibuntal fine straw used to make hatsparietal of a wall or walls, especially anatomical wallsparietals school rules regarding inter-gender contactparine of, like or pertaining to titmousesparison lump of glass before it is moulded into its final shapeparison even balance of elements in a sentenceparisthimion tonsilparisyllabic having the same number of syllables in all formsparity condition or fact of having born childrenparlous full of danger or riskParnassian poeticparnel mistress or concubine of a priest; harlotparochial local; confined to one regionparodinia difficult childbirthparoemia proverb or adage used in argumentationparoemiographer writer of proverbsparoemiography writing of proverbs; a treatise of proverbsparoemiology study of proverbsparomoeon alliterationparomoion starting statement with several words starting with the same letterparomologia partial admission of opponent’s argument to strengthen one’s final positionparomology concession of opponent’s point to strengthen one’s own pointparonomasia play on words; punningparonym word from same root or having same sound as anotherparorexia desire to eat strange foodsparotic near or adjacent to the earparous bearing or having borne offspringparousia second coming of Christparousiamania obsession with the second coming of Christparoxysm fit of passion; laughter; coughing; sudden violent actionparoxytone having an acute accent on the next to last syllableparquet floor-covering of fitted wooden blocksparr young salmonparrel band by which a yard is fastened to a mastparrhesia asking forgiveness in advance for frank or bold speechparricide killing of parent or close relativeparse to describe a word fully in terms of classificationparsonarchy government by parsonsparterre pit of a theatreparthenian of, like or pertaining to virginsparthenogenesis reproduction by a virgin or by means of an unfertilized eggparthenolatry worship of the Virgin Maryparthenology study of virginsparthophobia fear of virginspartible that may be divided up or partedparticularism belief that only a few are chosen for salvationpartim in partpartitive indicating a part of a larger wholepartocracy government by a single unopposed political partyparturition the act of giving birthparure a set of ornaments or jewelsparvanimity smallness of mindparvenu one suddenly risen to wealth without great social rankparvipotent having little powerparvis enclosed space at the front of a churchparviscient having little knowledgepascual growing on land used for grazing; of, like or pertaining to pasturespaseo leisurely stroll; march of bullfighters into arenapasguard armour for left arm and elbow to protect from lance strike while joustingpashmina fine goat’s wool fabric used for making shawlspasigraphy a system of universal ideographic writingpaso-doble quick Spanish one-step dancepasquilant lampoonerpasquin to lampoonpasquinade to lampoon; a lampoonpasquinian satiricalpassacaglia slow solemn Italian or Spanish dancepassade motion of horse to and fro over ground in dressagepassalorynchite one who takes a religious vow of silencepassant heraldic animal depicted walkingpassement decorative trimming of beads or braidpassepied Breton dance resembling a quick minuetpasserine of, like or pertaining to sparrowspassible susceptible to or capable of suffering or of feelingpassim everywhere; dispersedlypassimeter instrument for issuing automatic ticketspassiuncle minor or lesser passionpassivate to coat metal with oxides to protect from corrosionpassulate to dry grapespassus section of a poem or storypastance pastimepastern rope, strap or chain used to tie horse by its legpastiche medley, composed from different sources; imitative workpastille small cone of charcoal burned as incensepastose painted thicklypastourelle medieval poem between knight and shepherdesspatagium wing-membrane of flying mammalpataphysics the science of imaginary solutionspatation act of drinkingpatavinity provincialism; dialectal termpatefaction disclosure; opening; manifestationpatelliform shaped like a saucer or kneecappaten plate; metal disk used to hold Communion breadpateriform saucer-shapedpathic passive; a passive subjectpathogenesis causation or production of diseasepathognomic indicative of a specific diseasepathography life history used to trace a disease or disorderpathomania moral insanitypathophobia fear of diseasepathopoeia excitation of passion by rhetoric or poetrypatible capable of suffering or being acted on; passiblepatibulary of, like or pertaining to the gallowspatibulate to execute by hangingpatina film or surface that forms on surface of metal or woodpatination formation of a film on copper from exposurepatrial of, like or pertaining to one’s native landpatrimony inheritance from father or ancestorspatriolatry excessive devotion or worship of one’s native countrypatroclinous having inherited paternal characteristicspatrology study of early Christianitypatronym name derived from father’s namepatroon captain of a ship; coxswain of a longboatpatruity degree of relationship of paternal unclepatte narrow band keeping a belt or sash in its placepatten wooden shoe; clog; base of a pillarpatulous spreading; wide-spreading; openpauciloquent of few words; speaking littlepauldron shoulder-plate of suit of armourpaulopast just finished or pastpaulopost just afterpavage charge for paving streetspavane stately English Renaissance court dancepavé setting of jewellery with stones close togetherpavid timidpavior one who lays down paving stonespavis shield for the entire bodypavonated peacock-bluepavonian of, like or pertaining to peacockspavonine of, like or pertaining to peacockspax tablet decorated with sacred figure and kissed by participants in masspaxillose resembling a small stakepaynimry heathendompaysage landscapepaysagist painter of landscapespeatary region, bog or moor covered with peatpeau-de-soie soft, heavy closely-woven silkpeavey lumberman’s spiked and hooked leverpeccable liable to sinpeccadillo a slight offense or sinpeccaminous sinfulpeccancy sinfulness; transgressionpeccary tropical New World piglike mammalpeccavi admission of sin or guiltpeck unit of dry measure equal to 8 quartspecorous full of cowspectinal of a comb; comb-likepectination comb-like structurepectineal of the pubic bonepectiniform shaped like a combpectize to congeal; to cause to setpectoral armour for the breast of a person or horsepectoriloquy sound of patient’s voice as heard through stethoscopepectuncle cocklepecudiculture rearing of cattlepeculation embezzlementpeculium private property; especially when given by father to sonpecuniary of, like or pertaining to money; consisting of moneyped naturally formed mass or aggregate of soilpedagogics study of teachingpedagoguery schoolmastering; teachingpedalian of, like or pertaining to the foot or to metrical feetpedaneous going on foot; pedestrian; of lowly or petty standingpedantocracy government by pedants or strict rule-bound scholarspedary of, like or pertaining to walking or feetpedate footed; having feet; like a footpederasty anal intercourse between a man and a boypedetentous proceeding slowlypedicel stalk of an animal organpedicle bony protrusion of the skull from which an antler growspedicular of, like or pertaining to licepediculicide killing of licepediculophobia fear of licepediculous lousypediform shaped like a footpedigerous having or bearing feetpediluvium foot bathpedimanous having feet shaped like handspediment triangular structure crowning front of a Greek buildingpedipulate to work or knead with the feetpedography description of soil typespedological of, like or pertaining to soilspedology study of soilspedomancy divination by examining the soles of the feetpedometer instrument for measuring distance travelled on footpeduncle stem or stalk of a flowerpegamoid artificial leatherpegomancy divination by springs or fountainspeignoir woman’s dressing-gownpeirameter instrument measuring resistance of road surfaces to wheel movementpeirastic experimental; tentativepeise weight; burden; loadpejorate to worsen; to depreciatepejorism severe pessimismpekin fine soft silkpelage animal’s coat of hair or woolpelagic oceanic; inhabiting or carried out in the deep seapelargic of, like or pertaining to storkspelasgic nomadicpelatast ancient Greek shield-bearing soldierpelecoid shaped like a hatchet; a hatchet-shaped geometrical figurepelerine woman’s fur capepelisse fur-lined or fur garmentpelitic composed of fine sedimentpellate to divide; to separatepellicle thin skin or filmpellicule thin diaphanous fabricpellucid completely clear; transparentpelma sole of footpelmatogram footprintpelmet fringe or valance for hiding a curtain rodpeloid mud or other semi-solid medium used in bathspelology study of mudpelotherapy treatment by mud bathspeltastiform shield-shapedpeltiferous bearing a shieldpeltry skins of animals with the fur on thempelurious furry; hairypelviform basin-shapedpelvigraphy examination of the pelvispelvimeter instrument for measuring the pelvispembroke small four-legged table with hinged flapspemphigus skin condition characterized by watery boils on the bodypenacute having an acute accent on the penultimate syllable; paroxytonepenanggalan female vampire of Malay mythologypenannular in the form of an almost complete ringpenates household gods of a Roman familypencilliform paintbrush-shapedpendeloque drop pendantpendent hanging; drooping; danglingpendicle pendant, dependency or appendagependular of, like or pertaining to a pendulumpenduline building a pendulous nestpendulograph curve representing combination of musical soundspenecontemporaneous of geological processes occurring immediately after depositionpenectomy surgical removal of the penispenelopize to create work as an excuse to deter suitorspeneplain land worn down by denudation to almost be a plainpenes in the possession ofpenetralia inmost parts of a building or temple; innermost secretspenetrometer instrument for measuring firmness or consistency of substancespenial of, like or pertaining to the penispenicillate having small tufts or bristlespennaceous featherlikepennate winged; featheredpenniferous bearing featherspenniform feather-shapedpennyweight unit of troy weight equal to 24 grainspenology study of crime and punishmentpensile hanging; suspended; overhangingpensum task; school impositionpentad set of five thingspentagamist person who has or has had five spousespentalogy state of being in five partspentamerous having five parts or memberspentapolis alliance of five citiespentarchy government by five individualspentateuch the first five books of the Old Testamentpentheraphobia fear or hatred of one’s mother-in-lawpentimento revealing of part of a painting beneath a newer onepenury destitution; povertypeotillomania abnormal compulsion for pulling on the penispeotomy surgical removal of the penisper through; according to; by means or agency ofperacute very sharp or violent; very acuteperadventure perhaps; possibly; by adventure; by chanceperagrate to travel over or throughpercale closely woven lightweight clothpercaline glossy lightweight cottonperceptionalism belief that humans perceive things as they truly arepercheron dappled cart horsepercipient perceiving; observant; perceptivepercoct well-cooked; overdonepercurrent running through the whole lengthpercutaneous done or applied through the skinpercutient striking or having the power to strike; percussiveperdicine of, like or pertaining to partridgesperdricide killer of partridgesperduellion treasonperdure to endure over a period of timeperegal fully equalperegrination journey, especially on foot or to a foreign countryperegrinity foreignness; outlandishnessperennate to live perennially; to survive from season to seasonperequitate to ride through on horsebackperfectibilian believer in the perfectibility of mankindperfectibilism doctrine that humans capable of becoming perfectperfectionism doctrine that moral perfection constitutes the highest valueperfervid very fervid; ardent; eagerperficient effectual; actually achieving a resultperfuse to pour or diffuse through or overpergameneous like or resembling parchmentpergola arched framework for climbing plantsperiaster point in orbit of a body in which it is nearest to a specified starperibolos precinct; enclosing wall of a precinctpericentral surrounding a centre or central bodypericlinal sloping downwards in all directions from a pointpericlitate to endanger; to jeopardisepericope an excerpt or passage read during religious servicespericulous dangerousperiegesis description in the manner of a tour; journey throughperiergia use of elevated style to discuss a trivial matterperiodontics study of gumsperioeci individuals living at same latitude on opposite sides of earthperiotic around the earperipatetic wandering about; itinerantperipetia sudden change of fortuneperiphrasis circumlocution; round-about expressionperiplus a voyage or trip around somethingperipteral having a row of columns on every sideperiscian person living inside the polar circleperispomenon having a circumflex accent on the final syllableperissology verbiage; pleonasmperissosyllabic having an additional syllableperissotomist knife-happy surgeonperistalith ancient stone circleperisteronic of, like or pertaining to pigeonsperisterophily pigeon-collectingperistrephic moving round; revolving; rotatoryperistyle range of columns around a building or courtyardperitectic in the state between solid and liquid; meltingperiwinkle a bluish or azure colour; a plant with bluish flowers

–perlaceous pearlyperlative indicating movement through or acrossperliginous producing pearlsperlocution effect produced when a particular word is utteredperlustrate to traverse and inspect carefullypermeameter instrument for measuring permeabilitypernicious destructive; ruinous; fatalpernoctate to pass the night in vigil or prayerpernor one who takes or receivesperoral through the mouthperorate to speak grandiosely or grandiloquentlyperoration lengthy part of speech; especially a conclusionperpend to weigh in the mind; to consider carefullyperpilocutionist one who speaks through his hatperron raised platform or terrace at an entrance doorperruquier wigmakerperscrutation thorough searchperse dark blue or bluish-grey; cloth of such a colourperseity independent existenceperseverate to repeat an action continually or habituallypersiennes outside shutters with movable slatspersiflage banter; flippancy; idle chatterpersonalia personal details, possessions or storiespersonalism doctrine that humans possess spiritual freedompersonalty personal belongings and propertyperspectography theory of drawing according to rules of perspectiveperspicacious clear-minded; astute; perceptiveperspicuous easily understood; clearly expressedperstringe to constrain; to touch on; to censurepertinacity quality of holding unyieldingly to a positionpertuse punched; pierced; slitpertussis whooping coughperuke a frilly wigperulate scaly; having scaled skinpervicacious very obstinatepervigilium night vigilpervious permeable; penetrablepessary suppository inserted into the vaginapessimal least favourablepessimum point at which any condition is least favourablepessomancy divination using pebblespestiferous bringing plague or pestilencepestology science of pestspetaliferous bearing petalspetary peat-bogpetaurist flying phalangerpetcock valve for draining condensed steam from engine cylinderspetrary contrivance for hurling stonespetrean of, like or pertaining to or made of rockpetrel long-winged seabird with hooked billpetrichor pleasant smell accompanying the first rain after a dry spellpetricolous living in or near rockspetrissage massage by longitudinal rubbing and lateral squeezingpetrogenesis formation or development of rockspetroleous containing or rich in petroleumpetroliferous bearing petroleumpetrology study of rockspetrophilous living on or thriving in rocky areaspetrous stonypettifogger a lawyer given to underhanded tacticspettitoes pigs’ feet as foodpetulcous butting like a rampetuncle small scalloppewfellow one who occupies the same pew as anotherpexity roughness of the nap of clothpeytral armour for a horse’s breastphacochoerine of, like or pertaining to warthogsphacoid lens-shapedphacometer instrument for measuring lensesphaeic duskyphaeism duskinessphaeton open four-wheeled carriagephagomania excessive desire for food or eatingphagophobia fear of eatingphakic (of an eye) having a crystalline lensphalacrosis baldnessphalanstery dwelling of a communal group or phalanx of individualsphalarope migratory shorebird with lobed feetphallephoric carrying the penisphallic of, pertaining to or resembling a penisphallocracy government by menphallocrat one who assumes the naturality of male dominancephaneromania habit of biting one’s nailsphanerosis act or process of becoming visiblephanic visible; obviousphanopoeia visual imagery in poetryphantasmatography scientific description of rainbows and other lumnious atmospheric phenomenaphaometer old instrument for measuring light intensitypharisaic hypocriticalpharmacognosy study of drugs of animal and plant originpharmacology study of drugspharmacomania abnormal obsession with trying drugspharmacometer instrument for measuring drugspharmacopolist drug-seller; pharmacist; apothecary

–pharology study of lighthouses

–pharos lighthouse or beaconpharyngography description of the pharynxpharyngology study of the throatpharyngoscope instrument for inspecting the pharynxphassachate lead-coloured agatephatic using speech for social reasons or to communicate feelingsphellem corkphelloid cork-likephelloplastic a model in corkphememe smallest possible linguistic unitphemic of, like or pertaining to speechphenakistoscope early cinematograph in which figures are viewed through a slitphenetic of, like or pertaining to classification by phenotypephengite bright and beautiful kind of alabasterphengophobia fear of daylightphenogenesis origin of racial groupsphenology study of organisms as affected by climatephenomenalism belief that phenomena are the only realitiesphenomenology study of phenomenapheon the barbed head of a dart or arrow in heraldrypheretrer keeper of a shrinephialiform saucer-shapedphialine resembling a phialphilalethist lover of truthphilately study of postage stampsphilematology the act or study of kissingphilematophobe one who dislikes kissingphilhippic loving or admiring horsesphilippic speech or writing full of bitter condemnationphilistine materialistic in outlook; unculturedphillumeny collecting of matchbox labelsphilocaly love of beautyphilodemic fond of commoners or the lower classesphilodox one who loves his own opinions; dogmatic personphilogyny love of womenphilologaster petty or contemptible philologistphilology study of ancient texts; historical linguisticsphilomath lover of learningphilomelian of, like or pertaining to nightingalesphilonoist one who seeks knowledgephilopornist lover of prostitutesphiloprogenitive of, like or pertaining to instinctive love for offspringphilosophaster amateur or superficial philosopherphilosophicide one who kills or wishes to kill philosophers or philosophyphilosophocracy government by philosophersphilosophuncule petty or minor philosopherphilotechnical devoted to the artsphilotherianism love of animalsphiloxenia hospitalityphilter love-potion or charm; a drug to produce some magical effectphimosis inability to retract the prepuce of the penisphlebography description or examination of a veinphlebology study of the veins and their diseasesphlebotomy blood-lettingphlegmatic of a calm; unexcitable dispositionphlogiston nonexistent principle of flammability inherent in matterphlogogenetic causing inflamationphocine of, like or pertaining to sealsphocomelia having limbs like a seal’s flippersphoeniceous bright scarlet-red colourphoenicopter flamingopholidosis arrangement of scales, as in fish and reptilesphon unit of loudness of sound as heard by listenersphonascus person who maintains rhythm in church choirphonasthenia weakness of voicephonation production of vocal soundphonautograph instrument for recording sound vibrationsphonendoscope device which amplifies small soundsphonesis production of speech soundsphoniatrics study and correction of speech defectsphonography recording of sound by means of a phonographphonomania pathological tendency to murderphonometer instrument for measuring sound levelsphonophobia fear of noise or of speaking aloudphonophorous transmitting sound wavesphonus-bolonus exaggerated trickery or nonsensephorminx seven-stringed Greek lyrephorometer instrument used to correct abnormalities in eye musclesphoropter device with several lenses used to test eyesight

–

phoresy – 1. a nonparasitic relationship, especially among arachnids, insects or fish, in which one species is carried about by another: “The phoresy of

mule tours seemed ludicrous on the trails of the Grand Canyon, and we insisted on descending under our own power.”Approximately 1925; from New Latin, ‘phoresia’: (same); derived from Greek, ‘phoresis’: a carrying.–

phosphene light seen when the eyeball is pressedphossy caused by phosphorusphotaesthesia sense of visionphotic light-giving; sensitive to light; penetrated by lightphotism illusory vision of lightphotobiology study of effects of light on organismsphotodromy motion towards lightphotoglyph photographic engravingphotogyric turning towards lightphotolysis disintegration resulting from exposure to radiationphotomania pathological desire for lightphotometer instrument for measuring light intensityphoton unit of brightness of light as received at the retinaphotophile organism loving or thriving in lightphotophilous preferring or thriving in lighted conditionsphotophobia fear of lightphotophygous avoiding or disliking lightphotopia vision in bright lightphotopolarimeter instrument for measuring intensity and polarization of reflected lightphotopsia appearance of light flashes due to retinal irritationphotosphere region of space lit by the sunphototachometer instrument for measuring the speed of lightphototaxis growth or movement determined by lightphototelegraph instrument for transmitting drawings telegraphicallyphototonus sensitivity to lightphraseography representation of whole phrases with individual signs or symbolsphraseology study of phrasesphratry clan or tribephreatic of, like or pertaining to underground water supplying or wellsphrenesis delirium; frenzyphrenic of or near the midriffphrenography observation and description of mental phenomenaphrenology study of bumps on the headphrontistery a thinking-place; place for studyphthartic deadly; destructivephthirophagous lice-eatingphthisiotherapeutics medical treatment of tuberculosisphthongal of, pertaining to, or consisting of a sound; vocalizedphthongometer instrument measuring intensity of vowel soundsphugoid of, like or pertaining to the longitudinal stability of aircraftphycology study of algae and seaweedsphygogalactic halting milk productionphylactic defending against diseasephylarchy government by a specific class or tribephyle division of the people of a state into local clansphylliform shaped like a leafphylline leaf-likephyllomancy divination using leaves or tea leavesphyllomania excessive or abnormal production of leavesphyllophagous leaf-eatingphyllophorous leafy; bearing or having leavesphylogenesis origin and history of a species’ evolutionphysagogue substance causing flatulencephysicalism belief that all phenomena reducible to verifiable assertionsphysiocracy government according to natural laws or principlesphysiognomancy divination by studying the facephysiognomy general appearance of anything, especially the facephysiography description of landforms or natural features of the environmentphysiolatry nature-worshipphysiologus work containing descriptions of animals; a bestiaryphysiophilosophy system of knowledge concerning principles of natural historyphysiosophy assumption of knowledge of naturephysitheism attribution of physical form and attributes to deitiesphysiurgic due to natural causesphytivorous feeding on plantsphytogenesis origin and development of plantsphytogenic derived from plantsphytography description or treatise on plantsphytoid plant-likephytology study of plants; botanyphytomania obsession with collecting plantsphytopathology study of diseases of plantsphytophilous fond of plantsphytosophy knowledge of plantspiacular expiatory; atrociously badpianette small upright pianopibcorn old Welsh instrument like a hornpipepibroch piece of music for bagpipepica craving to eat dustpicamar bitter oily liquid obtained from tarpicaresque of, like or pertaining or pertaining to rogues or roguish behaviourpicaroon person who lives by his or her wits; rogue or scoundrelpicayune five-cent-piece or other coin of little valuepiceous like pitch; inflammable; reddish blackpichi small dark Argentinian armadillopichiciego small South American armadillopiciform of the form or shape of a woodpeckerpiciform of the nature of or resembling pitchpicine of, like or pertaining to woodpeckerspickelhaube spiked helmetpickery petty theft under Scottish lawpicksome particular; pickypickthank sycophant; flattererpicot loop in an ornamental edging; raised knot in embroiderypictography representation of ideas by means of picturespiddle nonsensepiebald of an animal, consisting of two or more colourspied variegated; of various colourspiedroit square pillar attached to wall, lacking both base and capitalpiend a salient anglepierage fee paid for use of a pierpieta representation of Virgin Mary with dead Christ across her kneespietism unquestioning or dogmatic religious devotionpiezometer instrument for measuring pressure or compressibilitypiggin small pail or bowl made of staves and hoopspight to pitchpigmentocracy government by those of one skin colourpignorate to give or take in pledge or pawnpigsconce blockheadpigwash rubbish; nonsensepika rabbit-like mountain-dwelling mammal with rounded earspilaster square column partially embedded in a wallpilch fur or wool outergarment; rug laid over saddlepilcrow paragraph-markpile upside-down wedge at an acute angle on a coat of armspileated cap-shaped; crested; cappedpileiform shaped like an umbrellapileum top of a bird’s headpileus umbrella-shaped portion of a mushroompilgarlick poor wretch; self-pitying personpiliferous bearing or growing hairpiliform shaped like hairpillion light pillow or saddle for a woman riderpilliwinks torture instrument for crushing fingerspillory wooden frame with holes for head and hands used as punishmentpilose having scattered soft or moderately stiff hairspilule little pillpiment spiced sweetened winepinacotheca picture-gallerypinafore loose protective garment worn over a dresspinchbeck cheap copper and zinc alloy; spurious or trashypinder one who impounds cattlepineal shaped like a pine-conepinetum collection or plantation of pine treespingo cone-shaped mound with ice corepinguefy to become or make fat or greasy; to make richpinguid fatpinion small wheel with teethpinion wing; last joint of a wing; outermost flight featherpinnace small vessel with oars and sailspinnate shaped like a featherpinniped seals, walruses, and other such sea mammalspintle bolt or pin on which something turns, as a hingepiolet ice-axepipa Chinese lutepipe unit of liquid capacity equal to two hogsheadspipistrelle small reddish-brown batpipkin small potpiqué stiff durable corded fabric of cotton, rayon or silkpiscary the right of fishing; a fishing pondpiscatology study of fishespiscatorial of, like or pertaining to fishing or fisherspiscicapturist fishermanpiscicide substance that kills fishpiscifauna fish life of an areapisciform shaped like a fishpiscina basin set in wall of church to drain away ceremonial waterpiscine of, like or pertaining to fishpiscivorous fish-eatingpisiform shaped like a peapismire an ant; something or someone insignificantpismirism hoarding of small or insignificant thingspisteology science or study of faithpistiology doctrine concerning faithpistolography instantaneous photographypistology branch of theology concerned with faithpitchometer instrument for measuring angles of ship’s propeller bladespiteous arousing or deserving pitypityroid bran-likepixilated bemused; bewildered; intoxicatedpizzle bull’s penis used as instrument of punishment by floggingplacage covering of walls with thin marble slabs or with plasterplacard thick metal reinforced plate of armour for back or breastplacee investor who is sold shares by private placementplacentiform cake-shapedplacentigerous bearing a placentaplacentography examination or imagery of the placentaplacentophagy eating of the placentaplacet vote of assent in a governing bodyplacitum decision of a court or an assemblyplacket opening in a skirt or shirt for a pocketplacoid plate-like; having plate-like scalesplafond decorated ceilingplagate marked with a streak or streaksplage fashionable beachplagiary one who plagiarises

–plagium the crime of kidnapping

–plainstones flagstone side-pavement of a streetplanation making levelplanchet blank metal disc to be stamped as a coinplanchette board or similar tool used in interpreting spirit messagesplanetesimal of, like or pertaining to asteroids or similar tiny celestial bodiesplanetic erring; erraticplanetogeny theory of the origin of planetsplanetography description or treatise on the planetsplanetolatry worship of the planetsplanetology study of planetsplangency resonance; noisinessplangent deep or loud soundingplangorous mournfulplanigraph instrument for copying drawings at a different scaleplanigraphy drawing of ground plansplaniloquent speaking plainlyplanimeter instrument for measuring area of plane figuresplanipennate having flat; broad wingsplanish to polish; to flattenplanisphere sphere projected onto a plane; map of the heavensplanity the quality of being planeplankwise in the manner or direction of a plankplanography cartographyplanomania abnormal desire to wander and disobey social normsplanster petty or poor plannerplantar of, like or pertaining to the sole of the footplantigrade walking fully on the soles of the feetplantivorous plant-eatingplantocracy government by plantation ownersplapper to make sounds with the lipsplash dash of waterplashy full of pools or puddles; marshy or boggyplasmophagous consuming plasmaplastography art of forging handwritingplastron fencer’s padded breast-shield; steel breastplate worn under hauberkplataleiform spoonbilled; of the shape of a spoonbillplatband flat molding that exceeds its projection; fillet between column’s flutingsplateasm broad speech; talking with the mouth open too wideplatilla fine white linenplatiniferous bearing platinumplatitude commonplace or trite remark made as if it were importantplatitudinarian one who utters platitudesplatometer instrument for measuring area; planimeterplatten to flatten into a plate or sheetplaturous flat-tailedplatypodia flat-footednessplatypussary building or pen where platypuses are keptplatysma broad sheet of muscle in the neckplauditory issuing enthusiastic approval or applauseplaustral of, like or pertaining to a wagonplaya basin which becomes a shallow lake after heavy rainfallpleach to intertwine the branches ofpleasance pleasure; enjoyment; complaisanceplebania mother-church having authority over several local churchesplebeian of the common people or vulgar classesplebification making something vulgar or plebeianplebiscitarism principle or practice of using plebiscitesplectile woven or plaitedplectrum pick for stringed instrumentspledget wad of cotton or lint used to dress a woundplegometer instrument for measuring the strength of a blowpleiomery condition of having more than the normal numberpleiomorphy occurrence of several distinct stages in the life cycle of an organismplemyrameter instrument for measuring variations in water levelplenary full; entire; complete; absolute; unqualifiedplenicorn having solid horns (as a deer)pleniloquence excessive talking; fullness of speechplenilunar of, like or pertaining to the full moonplenilune full moonplenipotence absolute powerplenitude fullness; completeness; abundance; sufficiencyplenum space completely filled with matterpleochroic displaying different colours when seen from different directionspleonasm redundancy; use of more words than necessarypleonectic greedy; covetouspleonexia greed; avaricepleroma fullness; abundanceplerophory full convictionplethysmograph instrument for measuring change in body part size due to blood flowplethysmography measurement of variation in blood pressurepleurotropous laterally flattenedplexiform shaped like a networkplexure network; web; interweavingplexus networkplicated folded fanwise; pleatedplication the act of foldingplimsoll rubber-soled canvas shoeplinth rectangular base of column or pedestalpliofilm thin waterproof transparent sheet used for packagingpliothermic of, like or pertaining to periods of above-average temperaturesplissé fabric with puckered finishploce repetition of word in more expressive sense for emphasisplodge to trudge through anything in which the feet sinkplosion release of breath after consonantplousiocracy government by the wealthy; plutocracyplumassier worker in feathers; feather-sellerplumbago graphiteplumbeous leaden; lead-colouredplumbiferous bearing or yielding leadplumbism lead poisoningplumbless incapable of being soundedplumeopicean of tar and feathersplumigerous plumagedplumiped having feathered feetplumulate downypluralism belief that reality consists of several kinds or entitiesplurennial lasting or surviving many yearspluriarc West African stringed instrument like a zitherpluriliteral of more than three lettersplurinominal having more than one namepluriparous giving birth to multiple young in a single birthpluripresence presence in multiple places at one timepluriserial in several rowsplutarchy government by the wealthy; plutocracyplutocracy government by the wealthyplutography description of the lives of the wealthyplutolatry worship of wealthplutology political economy; study of wealthplutomania mania for moneypluton mass of rock solidified under earth’s surfaceplutonic of volcanic or deep originplutonomy economicspluvial floor-length open-fronted ecclesiastical garmentpluviograph self-registering rain gaugepluviometer rain-meterpluviose rainypneometer instrument that measures respirationpneumatics study of mechanics of gasespneumatographer one who receives and writes spirit messagespneumatography description or treatise about spiritual beingspneumatolith stone in the lungpneumatology science of spiritual phenomena or beingspneumatomachy denial of the divinity of the Holy Ghostpneumatometer instrument for measuring quantity of air breathedpneumatomorphic like a spiritpneumatophany appearance of a spirit; especially the Holy Ghostpneumatophilosophy philosophy of spirits or the spirit worldpneumatophony sound caused by a ghost or spiritpneumatosis presence of gas in the bodypneumograph instrument for measuring and recording respirationpneumography description of the lungspnyx ancient Athenian place of assemblypoaceous of, like or pertaining or pertaining to grasspochette pocket notecase or walletpochoir manual colour stencilling onto a printed illustrationpocillator cup-bearerpococurante uninterested; indifferent; nonchalant; apatheticpoculation drinking of alcoholic beveragespoculent fit for drinkingpoculiform cup-shapedpodagra goutpodagrous goutypodalic of, like or pertaining to feetpodex rump; anal regionpodiatry study and treatment of disorders of the foot; chiropodypodiform shaped like a podpodobromhydrosis smelly feetpodocarp stalk that bears the fruit of a plantpodology study of the feetpodoscaph pedalled boat; canoe-shaped float attached to feet for walking on waterpodzol acidic soil with ash-like subsurface layerpoecilomere part of an animal’s body where colour variations first appearpoecilonym synonym; one of a variety of names for a thingpoêlée broth or stockpoephagous eating grass or herbs; herbivorouspoetaster petty poet; writer of contemptible versespoetolatry worship of poetspoetomachia contest or quarrel among poetspogamoggan wooden club with iron or stone piece on end, used by Indianspogoniasis excessive growth of beardpogonip dense fog of suspended ice particlespogonology book or treatise on beardspogonophile one who loves beardspogonophobia fear of beardspogonotomy shavingpogonotrophy growing of a beardpogrom organized massacrepoiesis creationpoikilitic mottledpoikilothermic cold-bloodedpoimenic pastoralpointel sharp instrumentpointillism use of separate dots of pure colour rather than blendspoise unit of viscosity of liquidspoitrel armour for a horse’s breastpoivrade pepper saucepokerish causing terror; uncannypolacca stately Polish dance; polonaisepolarchy government by many people; polyarchypolarimeter instrument for measuring polarised lightpolariscope instrument for detecting polarized lightpolder piece of low-lying reclaimed landpoldermitton curved reinforced armour for the right armpole unit of area equal to a square rodpolemarch ancient Greek military and civil officerpolemic controversial discussion or attackpolemology study of warpolemomania mania for warpolemoscope telescope with angled mirrors for seeing over walls or around cornerspoleyn piece of armour for the kneepoliceocracy government by policepoliclinic outpatient department of hospitalpoliorcectic of, like or pertaining to siegecraft or besiegementpoliosis premature graying of the hairpoliticaster petty politicianpoliticide killing of people because of their political beliefspoliticomania mania for politicspolkamania craze for polka dancingpollarchy government by the multitude or a mob; ochlocracypollard tree having the whole crown cut offpollent strongpollex the thumbpollicitation promise; especially one not yet acceptedpolliniferous bearing pollenpollinigerous pollen-bearingpollyanna one who is naively optimisticpolonaise stately Polish dance of moderate tempopoltophagy prolonged chewing of food–polverine glass-makers’ potashpolyacoustic amplifying soundspolyaemia plethorapolyarchy government by many peoplepolychotomy division into many partspolychrest thing or medicine useful in many wayspolycracy government by many rulers; polyarchypolydemic native to several countriespolydipsia abnormal thirstpolyergic having many functionspolyethnic consisting of or derived from many races or ethnicitiespolygenesis theory that humans derived from many separate originspolygenous of multiple origin or compositionpolygoneutic having several broods in each seasonpolygraphy copious or productive writingpolyhidrosis excessive perspirationpolyhistor person of exceptionally broad knowledgepolylemma argument forcing choice between contradictory statementspolylith prehistoric monument consisting of many stonespolyloquent speaking much; loquaciouspolymania mania affecting several different mental facultiespolymath person possessing knowledge of many subjectspolymicrian compressed into a very small spacepolymythy use of multiple plots in a single storypolynesic in multiple separate locationspolynia open water amid sea icepolyommatous having many eyespolyonym name consisting of several wordspolyopia multiple visionpolyphagous eating many types of foodpolypharmacy treatment with many medicinespolyphiloprogenitive very fertile; very imaginativepolyphloisbic loud-roaringpolyphloisboisterous noisypolyphone many-stringed instrument like a lutepolyphyletic descending from more than one original typepolypnea rapid breathingpolypod many-legged animalpolypragmatist busybodypolypsychic having several soulspolypsychism belief that one person may have multiple soulspolyptoton repetition of word in same sentence with multiple inflectional endingspolysarcous obesepolysemant word with many meaningspolystachious having many spikespolystichous arranged in many rowspolystomatous having many mouthspolystyle building having many columnspolysyllabilingual relating to polysyllabic languagespolysyllogism series of syllogisms where each is basis for nextpolysyndeton rhetorical device of repeating conjunction for emphasispolythalamous having many chamberspolytheism belief in multiple deitiespolytocous producing many or several at a birthpomace crushed apples for cider-makingpomaceous of, like or pertaining to or consisting of applespomade ointment for the hairpomander ball of perfumespomiculture growing of fruitpomiferous bearing applespomiform shaped like an applepomoerium open space around a town within the wallspomology study of fruit-growingponceau poppy redponderation weighing or weighing uppone card player on dealer’s right responsible for cutting cardsponent westernponerology theological doctrine of wickedness or evilpongee thin soft fabric woven from raw silkponiard small daggerpontage toll paid on bridges; tax for repairing bridgespontifice bridge-work; a bridgepontist bridge builderpontlevis drawbridgepoodle coarsely looped or nubby fabricpoop enclosed structure at stern of ship above main deckpoophyte meadow plantpopinjay conceited personpopjoy to amuse oneselfpoplin corded woven silk and worstedpopliteal of, like or pertaining to the back of the kneepopocracy government by populistspopple to flow tumblingly; to heave choppilypoppycock humbug; nonsensepoppyhead raised ornament on top of upright end of seats in churchespopulicide killing of the population of an area or nationporal of, like or pertaining to poresporbeagle shark with a pointed snoutporcellanous resembling porcelainporcine of, like or pertaining to pigs; swinishporculation fattening or feeding of swineporge to make meat kosher by removing veins and sinews from hindquartersporiferous having poresporiform having the form of a poreporiomania abnormal compulsion to wanderporism geometrical expression of possibility of multiple solutionsporlocking irksome intrusion or interruptionpornbroker one who deals in pornographypornerastic lecherous; bawdy; lewdpornocracy government by harlotspornogenarian dirty old manpornolagnia desire for prostitutespornomania obsession with pornographypornotopia perfect setting for the antics of pornographyporogamy fertilization of seed plantsporomeric permeable to water vapourporometer instrument for measuring degree of porosityporoplastic both porous and plasticporoscope instrument for investigating porosityporosis knitting together of broken bonesporphyrogenitic of royal birthporphyrogeniture accession of 1st son born after father’s accessionporphyrous purpleporphyry beautiful and valuable purplish stoneporraceous leek-greenporrect to stretch forth; to presentporriginous suffering from a scalp disease that causes baldnessporringer small dish for soup or porridgeportatile portableportesse portable breviaryportfire prepared paper cylinder used to fire rockets and fireworksportière curtain hung over door of a roomportiuncle small piece of something, especially of landportmanteau word formed by blending two existing wordsportreeve mayorposaune archaic tromboneposh nonsenseposigrade auxiliary rocket on a spacecraftpositivism doctrine that that which is not observable is not knowableposnet small cooking pot with feet and handleposology science of quantity or dosagepossessive indicating possession; genitive caseposset milk curdled with alcohol used as remedypost afterpostament frame; pedestalpostcenal after dinnerpostcibal after a mealpostconnubial after marriagepostdiluvian after the great Floodpostern back door or gate; small private doorpostexilic after exilepostface concluding note added to end of written work

–postiche excessively and inappropriately added to a finished work

Postiche Something that is a counterfeit not what it seems to be

wangle – Achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods. Tamper, with the purpose of deception. An instance of accomplishing something by scheming or trickery.

_posticous posterior; outward; extrorsepostil marginal note; commentarypostilion someone who guides posthorsespostjacent posterior; behindpostliminary subsequentpostliminy right of returned exiles to resume former statuspostlude closing piece of music at end of church servicepostmundane after the end of the worldpostprandial after dinnerpostreme lastlypostscenium part of stage behind the scenerypoststructuralism belief that there is no objective meaning to a textpostulant candidate for a religious orderpostulator official who presents case for canonization or beatificationpotable fit to drink; drinkablepotager garden laid out in a decorative waypotamic of, like or pertaining to riverspotamography study of geography of rivers; a description of riverspotamology study of riverspotation the activity of drinkingpotatory related to excessive drinkingpotentiate to use drugs in combination to increase their powerpotentiometer instrument for measuring electromotive forcespother choking smoke or dust; fuss; commotionpotichomania craze for imitating Oriental porcelainpotomania abnormal desire to drink alcoholpotometer instrument measuring rate at which plants absorb waterpotshop small public housepotter to busy oneself with trifling taskspottle small conical fruit basketpottle unit of liquid measurement of two quarts, or one-half gallon

–potto small nocturnal West African monkey

–poudrin small ice crystalspoulard fattened or spayed henpoulp octopuspoult young fowlpounce fine powder spread on writing paper to keep ink from runningpoundage charge for keeping stray cattlepoundal unit of force that accelerates 1 pound to 1 foot / second / secondpourboire tip; gratuitypourparler discussion prior to negotiationpourpointerie quilted armour with studspoussin chicken raised for eating at around six weeks oldpowellisation means of preserving timberpractive practical; concerned with practicepraedial of, like or pertaining to or connected with the land or farmingpraepostor prefect of a schoolpragmatica royal edict that has the force of lawpragmatism doctrine emphasizing practical value of philosophyprairillon small prairiepralltriller rapid musical trillprandial of, like or pertaining to dinnerprasinous leek-green colourpratal growing in meadowsprate to talk foolishly or sententiously; to tattlepratincole fork-tailed, long-winged Australian birdpratincolous inhabiting meadows or fieldspravity wickedness; depravitypraxeology study of practical or efficient activity; science of efficient actionpraxinoscope early cinematograph using series of moving drawingspraxis customary practice or conductpreadamic before Adampreagonal immediately preceding death throespreallable previous; preliminary; precedingpreaudience right to be heard before anotherprebend stipend or salary paid to clergymanprebendal of, like or pertaining to stipends issued by a churchprecantation prophecy; foretellingprecative supplicating; expressing entreatyprecatory of the nature of or expressing a wish or recommendationprecentor leader of the singing of a church choirpreceptive concerning rules of conduct, laws or preceptspreciation evaluation of the value or price of a thingprécieuse woman affecting a fastidious over-refinementprecipitinogenic causing precipitationprecisian overly precise person; formalistprecissive separating; defining; exactprecognosce to take a precognition ofpreconcert to settle beforehandpreconize to proclaim; to summon publiclypredacean predatory animalpredacious living by prey; predatorypredella platform for altar; portable altar or decoration upon itpredestinarianism belief that what ever is to happen is already fixedpredevote foreordainedpredicant preaching; predicatingpredicative indicating the predicate

–prefatorial serving as preface or opening remarks

–prefigure to imagine beforehand; to foreshadow

–prefulgent extremely bright

–pregustation foretaste

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Prehensile Avaricious Covetous Grabby Grasping

Avaricious – Immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth. “they are avaricious and will do anything for money”

covetous – Showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another’s advantages. “he was never covetous before he met her”; “jealous of his success and covetous of his possessions”. Immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth. “casting covetous eyes on his neighbour’s fields”

–Prehensor something that grasps or seizesprelacy episcopal church governmentprelapsarian belonging to the time before man’s original sinprelate bishop or abbot of superior rankprelation preferment; promotion; eminenceprelect to lectureprelibation foretaste; offering of first fruitspreliography description or treatise about a battleprelusive of the nature of a prelude; introductorypremiate to give a prize or premium forpremonish to warn beforehandpremorse ending abruptly as if bitten offpremotion divine impulse determining the willpremove to incite or prompt to actionpremundane period before the creation of the earthprenarial of, like or pertaining to or in front of the nostrilsprenticecide killer of an apprenticeprepense premeditated; intentionalprepollence predominanceprepone to reschedule for an earlier timeprepossess to bias or prejudice favourably; to impressprepotent potent in a very high degreepreputial of, like or pertaining to the foreskinprerupt broken off; steep; abruptpresbycousis hardness of hearing during old agepresbyophrenia female senility marked by loss of memorypresbyte old manpresbytery part of church reserved for officiating clergyprescind to cut off; cut short; separateprescious prescientprescriptivism belief that moral edicts are merely orders with no truth valuepreseminal before the onset of puberty; before fertilitypresenium period of life preceding old agepresentationism theory that the mind has direct access to perceived objectspresentient prescient; having a premonitionpresentoir ornamental shallow tray or cuppresidial of, like or pertaining to a garrisonpresidial presidentialpressible able to be pressedprest to loanprestigiator conjurerprestriction blindness; blindfoldingpreterist lover of the pastpreterite signifying past time or a completed actionpreterition passing over or omission; drawing attention to a thing by claiming to omit itpretermit to pass by; to omit; to leave undonepreterpluparenthetical tending to use excessive parenthesis; pedanticprevenancy courteous anticipation of others’ wishesprevenient antecedent; preceding; anticipatoryprevernal blossoming or foliating earlyprevision foresight; foreknowledgeprevoyant having foresightPriapean of, like or pertaining to male reproductive power; phallicpriapism constant erection; licentiousness; lewdnesspricket spike or antler used as a candlestickpridian of, like or pertaining to yesterdayprie-dieu prayer stool or kneeling bench in a churchprill nodule of metal obtained after assayingprimage fee paid to loaders for loading shipprimatology study of primatesprime prayer service held at 6 a.m.primigenial first or earliest formed or producedprimiparous having borne only one childprimitiae first fruitsprimitial of, like or pertaining to first fruits; primevalprimitivism doctrine that a simple and natural life is morally bestprimo in the first placeprimogenous of, like or pertaining to the earliest or first developmental stageprimrose pale yellowprinceps first; especially first edition of a bookprion small Antarctic petrelpriscan ancient; of early timesprisoptometer instrument for measuring degree of astigmatismprithee expression of wish or requestprivatism attitude of avoiding involvement in outside interestsprivative indicating absence, deprivation or negationprivity privacy; secrecy; secret or confidential conversationpro in favour of; forpro rata proportionallypro tanto to that extent; accordinglyproairesis the act of choosingprobabiliorism belief that when in doubt one must choose most likely answerprobabilism belief that knowledge is always probable but never absoluteproband one with a certain feature by which descendants analyzedprobang flexible rod put down throat to clear obstacleprobit unit of measurement of statistical probabilityproboscidate having a proboscis or long snoutprobosciform shaped like a long noseprobouleutic for preliminary deliberationprocacity petulance; insolenceprocatalectic lacking the unaccented part of first foot of a line of verseprocatalepsis anticipating and answering an opponent’s objectionsprocathedral parish church serving as a cathedralproceleusmatic inciting; encouraging; exhortingprocellous stormyprocephalic of, like or pertaining to the front of the headprocerity tallnessprochronism assigning a date to an event earlier than actualprocidence prolapse; falling forward or downward

–Procinct – preparedness

–Proclisis – pronunciation of word dependent on following word

–Proclivitous steep

–Procoelous – cupped in front

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Procrastinator – Someone who postpones work (especially out of laziness or habitual carelessness)

–procrustean seeking to enforce uniformityprocrypsis protective colorationproctal of, like or pertaining to the anus or rectumproctology study of rectumproctor disciplinary officer at a college or universityproctoscope instrument for examining the rectumprocumbent lying or leaning forward; proneprocuratory authorization to act for anotherprocursive running forwardprocyonine of, like or pertaining to raccoonsproditor traitorprodrome initial symptom of a disease; introductory treatiseproeguminal predisposing; precedingproem prefaceproemial introductory; prefatoryproemptosis addition of extra day to lunar calendar every 300 yearsproethnic of, like or pertaining to primitive racesprofectitious derived from a parent or ancestorprofligate debauched; rashly extravagantprofluent exuberant; abundantprofulgent shining out; radiantprogeria second childhood; disease of premature agingprognathic having a jaw that projects forwardprojacient jutting forwardprojectionism theory that some apparent qualities of reality are projections of the mindprojicient communicating between an organism and its environmentprolate having flattened sides due to lengthwise elongationprolation utteranceprolative indicating motion alongside or means of motionprolegomenon introductory study or treatiseprolepsis anticipation; device where objections are anticipatedproleptical prehistoricproleptics prognosisprolicide killing of offspring; killing of the human raceproligerous bearing offspringprolix long-winded; garrulous; dwelling too long on particularsprolocutor spokesman; speaker of the House of Lordsprolusion preliminary performance, activity or displaypromachos champion or defender; tutelary godpromptuary repository; reference book of factspromulgate make known; disseminatepronaos vestibule in front of a templepronasale tip of the nosepronation turning hand and forearm so that palm faces downwardpronograde walking with body parallel to groundpronomination description of a thing by its qualities rather than its proper nameprooemium prefacepropadeuctic a preliminary study; preliminaryproper elements of Christian mass that are variableprophetocracy government by a prophetpropine to pledge in drinking; to present or offerpropinquity closenesspropitiate to render favourable; to appeaseproplasm preliminary model or mouldpropolis resin of tree buds collected by beesproprioception sense of muscular positionpropugnation defenceprore prow; shipproreption creeping attack or secretive advance of troopsprorogue to discontinue meetings of a group without dissolving itprorrhesis prefaceprosateur one who writes prose for a livingproscenium part of the stage in front of the curtainprosector one who dissects bodies in anatomical lecturesproseuche place of prayer; oratoryprosilient outstanding; conspicuous; jumping forthprosit toast to good healthprosodemic contagious; infectiousprosodic of, like or pertaining to versificationprosody study of versificationprosopic of, like or pertaining to the faceprosopography biographical sketch; description of personprosopography description of an individual’s life, character, or physical formprosopopoeia personification; representation of absent person as speakingprospice look forwardprostyle building having columns only in the frontprosy prosaic; tediousprosyllogism syllogism whose conclusion forms premise of anotherprotactic prefatory; preliminarily explanatoryprotanopia colour-blindness with respect to redprotasis first clause in a conditional expression; introductory part of a playprotean variable; versatile; assuming different formsprotension durationprotensive extensive in time or lengthprotervity peevishness; petulance; perversity; wantonnessprotestation avowal or solemn declarationprothalamion song or poem celebrating a coming marriageprothonotary chief registrar of a court; keeper of canonisation recordsprothysteron putting last what normally comes first in an expression or argumentprotistology study of protistsprotocolist registrar or clerkprotogenic formed at the beginningprotogenist inventorprotolithic from the earliest Stone Ageprotomorphic primordial; primitiveprotopathy first or direct experienceprotoplast original ancestor; first-formed person or thingprototrophic feeding directly on uncombined elementsprotozeugma zeugma in which word referring to two clauses is placed before both of themprotreptic exhorting; encouraging; didactic; doctrinal

–provand allowance of food; provisions

–provection transfer of last letter of one word to first of nextproveditor purveyor of supplies or goodsprovenance source; originprovenient issuing forthprovidore steward; quartermasterprovine to propagate by layeringproxemics study of man’s need for personal spaceproxenete procurer; marriage brokerproximo of next monthproxysm close or near relationshippruinose having a frosted look; bearing whitish dustprunella strong and heavy silk or woolpruniferous bearing plumsprunt moulded glass ornament attached to a larger glass objectprurient stemming from the indulgence of lewd ideas; lasciviousprurigo irritating skin disease causing itchingpruritus itching of the skinpsalligraphy the art of paper-cutting to make picturespsalmodist singer of psalmspsalmody act of singing psalms in church servicespsalmography art of composing psalmspsaltery ancient stringed musical instrumentpsammite fine-grained rockpsammophile sand-loving plantpsammous sandypsellism defect in articulation or pronunciationpsephitic of, like or pertaining to pebblespsephocracy government resulting from election by ballotpsephology study of election results and voting trendspsephomancy divination by drawing lots or markers at randompseudacusis mistaken or false hearingpseudaesthesia imaginary feeling or sensationpseudandry assumption of man’s proper name by a womanpseudaposematic imitating the coloration of a dangerous animalpseudepigrapha apocrypha; non-canonical books of the Biblepseudepigraphy assignment of false authors to bookspseudepigraphy false attribution of authorshippseudepiscopy existence or rule of a spurious bishoppseudoautochiria murder disguised as suicidepseudoblepsis imaginary or false vision; hallucinationpseudochromaesthesia mental association of sounds with colourspseudochronism error in datingpseudocide pretended attempt at suicidepseudodox false doctrine or opinionpseudography unsatisfactory spellingpseudography false, incorrect, or spurious spellingpseudogyny adoption of woman’s name by a manpseudohermaphroditism condition in which sex chromosomes and genitals are of different sexespseudolalia incoherence of speechpseudolatry false worshippseudologia lying in speech or writingpseudologue pathological liarpseudology art or science of lyingpseudomania irrational predilection for lyingpseudomorph false or abnormal physical formpseudonymuncle lesser or minor writer who uses a pseudonympseudophonia suicide disguised as murderpseudopsia optical illusionpseudoptics study of optical illusionspseudosmia false perception of odourspseudosopher one who pretends to hold knowledge or wisdompseudosophy pretension to wisdompsilanthropism denial of Christ’s divinitypsilosis loss of hairpsilosophy shallow philosophy; limited knowledgepsilothrum substance causing loss of hairpsithurism whispering noise; sound of leaves moving in the windpsittacine of, like or pertaining to macaws, parakeets or parrotspsittacism parrot-like repetition of speechpsittacistically mechanically; in a parrotlike fashionpsoas loin musclepsomophagy swallowing food without thorough chewingpsophometer instrument measuring audible interference of electrical currentpsychaesthesia sensation in relation to feeling or thoughtpsychagogic attractive; encouragingpsychagogue conductor of souls to the underworldpsychalgia mental pain or distresspsychiasis healing of the soul or psychepsychism belief in universal soulpsychobiology study of biology of the mindpsychodynamic concerning psychological motives and causationpsychofugal proceeding outward from a mental statepsychogenesis origin and development of the mind

–psychogony development of the mind or soulpsychogram writing supposedly produced under influence of spiritspsychograph instrument that supposedly records spirit messagespsychography production of writing purportedly by a spiritual entitypsychologism theory that mathematical or metaphysical laws can be derived from psychologypsychomachy conflict between the body and the soulpsychomancy divination by means of spiritspsychometry measurement of intelligence and psychological attributespsychomorphism doctrine that inanimate objects have human mentalitypsychoneuroendocrinology study of relationship between the mind, the nervous system, and the endocrinepsychopannychism belief souls sleep from death to resurrectionpsychopathology study of mental illnesspsychophysics study of link between mental and physical processespsychorrhagy separation of the soul from the bodypsychosomatic of a physical disorder, having a psychological causepsychosophy doctrine or theory of the soulpsychotaxis alteration of mental outlook to satisfy the personalitypsychotheism doctrine that God is a purely spiritual entitypsychroaesthesia sensation of cold in part of body that is actually warmpsychrolusia bathing in cold waterpsychrometer instrument for measuring air moisture or temperaturepsychrophilic thriving in cold temperaturespsychrophobia fear of the coldpsychurgy mental function, operation or energyptarmic substance that causes sneezingpteric of, like or pertaining to the wing or the shoulderpteridology study of fernspteridomania passion for fernspterography treatise or description of featherspteronophobia fear of being tickled by featherspteropine of, like or pertaining to flying foxespterospermous having winged seedspterygium abnormal mass of tissue obstructing vision in the eyepterygoid like a wingpteryla patch or clump of feathers on a birdpterylography treatise on the feathers of birdspterylology study of distribution of feathers on birdsptilosis plumage or mode of feathering; plumageptochocracy government by beggars or paupers; wholesale pauperizationptochogony production of beggars; pauperizationptosis drooping of the upper eyelidptyalagogue substance that promotes salivationptyalism excessive flow of salivapubarche first appearance of pubic hairpuberulent feebly or minutely pubescent; covered with minute downpubigerous hairy; bearing or growing hairpuccoon blood-root; dark red colourpuce brownish-purple; purplish-pinkpucelage virginitypucelle maid; virginpuckery astringent; tending to wrinklepudendum external female reproductive organspudibund shamefaced; prudishpudicity modestypudor sense of shamepudu small Chilean deerpuericulture child-rearingpuerperal of, like or pertaining to childbirthpug ground clay mixed with waterpugil small handful; pinchpugioniform dagger-shapedpuisne inferior in rank; later; juniorpuissant powerful; mightypuku red Central African antelopepulchritude beautypule to pipe; to whimper or whinepulicide flea-killer

–pulicoid like a fleapullastrine of, like or pertaining to pigeonspullet young henpulley-piece armour for the kneepullulate to swarm; to teem; to breed freely; to sproutpulmonic of, like or pertaining to the lungspulpitum gigantic stone screen separating cathedral choir from the navepulsimeter instrument for measuring the pulsepultaceous macerated and softened; like porridge; pulpypulverous dusty or powderpulverulent dusty-looking; readily crumbling; powderypulvil perfumed powderpulvillar cushion-likepulvilli pads between claws of an insect’s footpulvilliform shaped like a cushionpulvinated cushion-like; bulging; pillowypunalua marriage of brothers of one family to sisters of anotherpuncheon tool for punching or stampingpunctal like a pointpunctate dotted; pittedpunctatim point for pointpunctiform shaped like a pointpunctilio minor detail or point of conductpunctilious scrupulous and exactpunctiuncle insignificant or trifling point of an argumentpunctulate bearing small spots or dotspunctule minute dot, pit or aperturepunctus point used in medieval manuscripts to indicate a short pausepundigrion play on words; punpunditocracy government by political punditspundonor point of honour

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Punic woman treacherous perfidious

punic – “Punic faith”. Tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans

Perfidious – Tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans. “the perfidious Judas”.

Treacherous – Tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans. “the fiercest and most treacherous of foes”; “treacherous intrigues”. Dangerously unstable and unpredictable. “treacherous winding roads”.

–puniceous bright or purplish redpunk dry decayed wood used for tinderpunnet small shallow fruit basketpupate to pass through a chrysalis stagepupigerous bearing a pupariumpupillarity the state of being a pupilpupillography examination and description of the pupil of the eyepurblind nearly blindpurfle to ornament the edge of with embroiderypurificator cloth used to wipe Eucharist chalicepuriform like puspurlicue curl or flourish in writing; summary of speechespurlieu a person’s usual haunts; neighbourhoodpurline supporting timber stretching across rafterspurloin to steal; to filchpurpresture encroachment on public propertypurpure heraldic colour purplepurpureal purplepurser ship’s officer in charge of finances and passengerspursuivant follower or attendantpurulence the quality of being filled with pusPushful energetically or aggressively enterprisingPusillanimous lacking firmness; cowardly; having a weak character

–Pustule pimple containing pus; lump or wart

–Putanism lewdness in women; prostitution

_

Putative supposed; reputedputcher wire trap for catching salmonputeal wall round the top of a wellputid decayed; fetidputlock cross-piece in a scaffoldingputois brush for painting potteryputrefaction rottingputrilage products or remnants of decayputto plump naked winged boy in artworkputure foresters’ claim of subsistence within bounds of forestpuy small volcanic conepycnometer instrument for measuring specific gravity or densitypycnomorphous compact; densepycnosis thickeningpycnostyle having closely spaced columnspyelography examination of the kidney and ureterpygal belonging to the rump end; pertaining to the rumppygia pain in the rumppygmachy boxing; fighting with clubspyknic characterized by short squat staturepyknometer instrument for measuring specific gravitiespyogenic pus-formingpyoid purulent; pus-likepyramidography treatise on the Egyptian pyramidspyranometer instrument measuring solar radiation from the sky’s whole hemispherepyrene fruit-stonepyretic of, pertaining to or for the cure of feverspyretology study of feverspyrexia feverpyrexical feverishpyrgeometer instrument for measuring radiation from earthpyrgoidal tower-shapedpyrgology study of towerspyrheliometer instrument for measuring heating effect of sunpyriform shaped like a pearpyritiferous bearing pyritepyroballogy study of artillerypyroclastics ash and other material released by volcanopyrogenation subjection to heatpyrogenous produced by or producing heat or feverpyrognomic easily made incandescentpyrography study of woodburning; writing using hot instrumentpyrokinesis ability to start fires using mind alonepyrolatry fire-worshippyromachy use of fire in combatpyromancy divination using firepyrometer instrument for measuring very high temperaturespyrophanous becoming transparent when heatedpyrophobia fear of firepyrophorus substance that spontaneously combustspyroscope instrument for measuring intensity of radiant heatpyrosis heartburnpyrosophy knowledge of the properties of firepyrrhic of, like or pertaining to the dance or to the footpyrrhonism total or radical skepticismpyrrhotism state of being red-hairedpyrrhous reddish; ruddypyrrhuline of, like or pertaining to bullfinchespysmatic questioning; interrogatorypythogenic produced by filth; causing dirt or decaypythonic like an oracle or a pythonpythonism possession by an oracular spiritpyx box or vessel in which coins or consecrated Eucharist are keptpyxis little box or casket for jewels or toiletries

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palliate (v.) to reduce the severity of (The doctor trusted that the new medication would palliate her patient’s discomfort.)When you palliate something, you try to make something less bad: “City leaders tried to palliate effects of the trash haulers’ strike by distributing extra

large garbage cans with tight-fitting lids.”

Palliate is the word to use when you want to make something feel or seem better. Palliate doesn’t mean “cure” or “solve.” Instead, something that palliates

relieves the symptoms or consequences of something, without addressing the underlying cause. Your dentist might give you pain-killing drugs to palliate the

discomfort caused by an impacted molar, but that molar is still there, waiting to cause more trouble.

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pallid (adj.) lacking color (Dr. Van Helsing feared that Lucy’s pallid complexion was due to an unexplained loss of blood.)

panacea (n.) a remedy for all ills or difficulties (Doctors wish there was a single panacea for every disease, but sadly there is not.)

paragon – (n.) a model of excellence or perfection (The mythical Helen of Troy was considered a paragon of female beauty.)

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_

Paragon – An ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept

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pariah – (n.) an outcast (Following the discovery of his plagiarism, Professor Hurley was made a pariah in all academic circles.)A pariah is someone that has been soundly rejected by their community. Your constant gossiping might make you a pariah on campus.

Pariah takes its name from a tribe in Southeast India. The pariahs were drummers, sorcerers, and servants who became untouchables in Indian society because of the unsanitary jobs they did. Pariah maintains this sense of untouchableness. Pariahs are not just unliked, they are avoided at all costs. Imagine how a once popular restaurant could gain pariah status if it fails health inspections three times in a row.–

Pasquinade – A composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody’s style, usually in a humorous way.–

pathos – (n.) an emotion of sympathy (Martha filled with pathos upon discovering the scrawny, shivering kitten at her door.)

paucity (adj.) small in quantity (Gilbert lamented the paucity of twentieth-century literature courses available at the college.)

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pedantic – of, relating to, or being a pedant(see pedant). narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned. It may seem pedantic to harp on what looks

like mere procedure, but this is one case where the process is the forest.

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pejorative (adj.) derogatory, uncomplimentary (The evening’s headline news covered an international scandal caused by a pejorative statement the famous senator

had made in reference to a foreign leader.)Call a word or phrase pejorative if it is used as a disapproving expression or a term of abuse. Tree-hugger is a pejorative term for an environmentalist.

Coming from the Latin word for “worse,” pejorative is both an adjective and a noun. As an adjective, it means disapproving or disparaging. Hack is a

pejorative term for a bad writer. If you call someone a politician in the pejorative sense, you mean that they are scheming and out for personal gain.

Terms of abuse such as jerk and negative euphemisms such as bottom feeder are pejoratives, words you use when you want to call someone a bad name.–

pellucid (adj.) easily intelligible, clear (Wishing his book to be pellucid to the common man, Albert Camus avoided using complicated grammar when composing The

Stranger.)A sentence that teaches a new vocabulary word should always be pellucid, that is, its style and meaning should be easily understandable so that you can

derive the definition from the sentence.

You may have heard the word lucid, which means clear. Both lucid and pellucid derive from a Latin word that means “to shine through.” Pellucid water is

clear, a pellucid sky is a particularly intense shade of blue, pellucid prose is writing that’s easy to understand, and pellucid singing is clear and light

in tone.

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penurious (adj.) miserly, stingy (Stella complained that her husband’s penurious ways made it impossible to live the lifestyle she felt she deserved.)Don’t have two nickels to rub together? You’re penurious — a lovely long way of saying you’re flat broke.

Penurious also means a general dislike of spending money. If someone accuses you of being cheap, tell them you prefer to be thought of as penurious. It

sounds so much classier. It’s related to a similar word, penury, which means “a state of extreme poverty.”–

Perfidious – (adj.) disloyal, unfaithful (After the official was caught selling government secrets to enemy agents, he was executed for his perfidious ways.)

Perfidious – Tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans. “the perfidious Judas”.

Treacherous – Tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans. “the fiercest and most treacherous of foes”; “treacherous intrigues”. Dangerously unstable and unpredictable. “treacherous winding roads”.

punic – “Punic faith”. Tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans

perfunctory – (adj.) showing little interest or enthusiasm ( The radio broadcaster announced the news of the massacre in a surprisingly perfunctory manner. )

pernicious – (adj.) extremely destructive or harmful (The new government feared that the Communist sympathizers would have a pernicious influence on the nation’s stability.)

perspicacity – (adj.) shrewdness, perceptiveness (The detective was too humble to acknowledge that his perspicacity was the reason for his professional success.)

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pert – This sassy little adjective pert is lively and bold, like your pert best friend who storms in and demands to borrow your favorite jacket.

Although pert is found inside its synonym impertinent (rudely bold), pert can also mean stylish, like that pert fedora cocked at a jaunty angle. Someone healthy and bright-eyed is pert, too. You might be pert after a strong cup of coffee and a pep talk, or after a visit from the celebrity stylist. Although pert has been around since the 1300s — from Middle English, “unconcealed, bold” — it is also the name of a shampoo that embraces all shades of meaning of this four-letter word.–

pertinacious – (adj.) stubbornly persistent (Harry’s parents were frustrated with his pertinacious insistence that a monster lived in his closet. Then they opened the closet door and were eaten.)If you won’t take no for an answer, you’re pertinacious. The same holds true if you stubbornly push on a door despite a sign that says “pull.” Pertinacious means unyielding or perversely persistent.

We get pertinacious from the Latin pertinx, which combines per- “thoroughly” with tenx “tenacious.” You can impress your friends by dropping pertinacious into conversation when referring to anyone who is bullheaded and obstinately stuck in their ways and opinions. If a Girl Scout is a pertinacious salesperson you might buy fifty boxes of Thin Mints when you only wanted one.

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phlegmatic – Yes, phlegmatic has roots in that colorless, mucousy stuff called phlegm, but people who are phlegmatic aren’t called that because they have lots of mucus.

They are just a little dull in expressing feelings or showing emotion.

It may be their training more than their natural behavior, but those palace guards who wear the red coats and big hats and show absolutely no expression on their faces are phlegmatic. Attempts to make them laugh, smile, or twist their faces in irritation won’t work, because being phlegmatic is important to their role as stone-faced keepers of the palace. Phlegmatic people show less emotion on the outside — but who knows, they may be jumping up and down on the inside.–

petulance – (n.) rudeness, irritability (The nanny resigned after she could no longer tolerate the child’s petulance.)

pithy (adj.) concisely meaningful (My father’s long-winded explanation was a stark contrast to his usually pithy statements.)A pithy phrase or statement is brief but full of substance and meaning. Proverbs and sayings are pithy; newspaper columnists give pithy advice.

The root of this word is pith, which refers to the spongy tissue in plant stems, or the white part under the skin of citrus fruits. Pith is also used figuratively to refer to the essential part of something: They finally got to the pith of the discussion. Pith descends from Middle English, from Old

English pitha “the pith of plants.” In the adjective pithy, the suffix –y means “characterized by.”–

platitude (n.) an uninspired remark, cliché (After reading over her paper, Helene concluded that what she thought were profound insights were actually just

platitudes.)

If an executive gives a speech that begins, “This business is all about survival of the fittest. You need to burn the midnight oil and take one for the

team,” his employees might get sick of listening to these meaningless clichés and tell him to cut the platitudes.

The English language contains many old, worn-out clichés, or platitudes. Phrases like “ants in your pants” and “as American as apple pie” are so overused

that they’ve almost lost their meaning. People rely on these tired old remarks when they can’t think of anything original to say. Be warned: if you throw

too many platitudes into your conversations, people are eventually going to get tired of listening to you.

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plethora (n.) an abundance, excess (The wedding banquet included a plethora of oysters piled almost three feet high.)

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plaudit –

As its sound might suggest, plaudit is indeed related to “applaud” and “applause.” In fact it’s really just a fancy way of saying “praise” or

“acclamation.”

Plaudit is used more in a literary sense than in spoken English, and particularly applies to the reception of a work of art, most notably a play. In fact,

the word comes from the Latin plaudite, loudly uttered by Roman actors at the end of a play and meaning “applaud!” Kind of like cue cards for game show

audiences now.

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polemic (n.) an aggressive argument against a specific opinion (My brother launched into a polemic against my arguments that capitalism was an unjust economic

system.)

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Poltophagy – thorough chewing of food until it becomes like porridge. Poltophagy was an offshoot of Fletcherism, a health fad of the Victorian era.

Nutritionist Horace Fletcher advocated chewing each mouthful 30+ times before swallowing as a method of maximizing health. Adherents of poltophagy were not

distracted from dinner conversation by chew–counts, but they nonetheless had their mouths full for much of the meal.

The word poltophagy was coined by a doctor who drew upon the Greek word poltos for his coinage, with the misunderstanding that poltos meant “masticated” or

“finely divided.” Poltos, though, means “porridge,” and this etymology has stuck to the modern word.

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Poltroon – a spiritless coward. craven; cowardly

P.G. Wodehouse was fond enough of this sixteenth-century term to use it in several of his books. For example:

“Archie … was no poltroon, and had proved the fact on many occasions during the days when the entire German army seemed to be picking on him personally …”

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portent – (n.) an omen (When a black cat crossed my sister’s path while she was walking to school, she took it as a portent that she would do badly on her spelling test.)While you might love crows, your father will shudder when he sees them if he superstitiously believes they’re a portent — a sign or warning — of death.

A portent is an omen of something momentous, which can be good, but is more often negative. You can use portent to mean a magical foretelling or symbol, but you can also use it to talk about something real, the way you could describe big, dark storm clouds as a portent of a thunderstorm.

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potentate – A potentate is a person so powerful they don’t have to follow the rules that govern everyone else. Potentate normally refers to a king or dictator, but you

can call anyone with virtually unlimited power a potentate.

The king of a country, the conductor of an orchestra, the commander of a battleship—all of these are examples of a potentate. Take a look at potentate, and

you’ll see the word potent, which means “powerful,” as in “that’s one potent cup o’ joe!” It’s easy to see, then, how potent becomes potentate just by adding a few letters. A potentate is a powerful person. Anna Wintour is a potentate of the fashion world, and her decisions can make or break whole careers.

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Prating – Speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly

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Precocious – (adj.) advanced, developing ahead of time ( Derek was so academically precocious that by the time he was 10 years old, he was already in the ninth grade. )

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predilection – A predilection is a preference for or bias toward something. If you have a predilection for wool clothing, you should take up knitting.

Predilection is based on the Latin verb praediligere, or “prefer before others,” which breaks down to prae, before, and diligere, “choose or love.” We

often use the word predilection for tendencies that people seem to have been born with, also called predispositions. If you’re a night owl, you probably

have a predilection for cities, while morning people tend to prefer the country.

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presage –

A presage is a sign that something bad is about to happen, like when you get that queasy feeling in your stomach because your mom found out you skipped

band practice to go to the movies.

Presage, pronounced “PREH-sige,” can be a noun or a verb. As a noun, presage is a warning or omen of bad things to come, like a strange quiet and stillness

in the air, presage to the coming tornado. As a verb, presage means “making a prediction or giving a warning of what’s to come,” like a terrible end-of-

season football game’s outcome game that presaged the struggles the team faced the next season.–

prescient (adj.) to have foreknowledge of events (Questioning the fortune cookie’s prediction, Ray went in search of the old hermit who was rumored to be

prescient.)

primeval (adj.) original, ancient (The first primates to walk on two legs, called Australopithecus, were the primeval descendants of modern man.)

probity (n.) virtue, integrity (Because he was never viewed as a man of great probity, no one was surprised by Mr. Samson’s immoral behavior.)Though probity sounds like what you might do with a sharp stick, it actually means being morally and ethically above reproach, having integrity.

If you show fiscal probity, it means you are responsible and ethical with your money. The story of George Washington chopping down the cherry tree and

refusing to lie about it is a story of probity. The story was first told by a pastor, who may have made the whole thing up according to today’s scholars,

possibly to sell books –– no act of probity.–

proclivity – (n.) a strong inclination toward something (In a sick twist of fate, Harold’s childhood proclivity for torturing small animals grew into a desire to become a surgeon.)

A proclivity is a natural tendency to like something, such as your sister’s proclivity for restaurants that serve hot, spicy food.

When you have a proclivity, it feels automatic — you like what you like; you don’t even have to think about it. The origin of the word proclivity supports this feeling. Proclivity comes from the Latin word proclivis, which literally means “sloping forward.” You slide toward a proclivity — no effort is needed.

You just give in to it, since you’re headed in that direction naturally.

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profligate – Profligate, as a noun or as an adjective, implies recklessly wasting your money on extravagant luxury. Profligate behavior is a lot of fun, but you’ll regret it later — when you get your charge card bill.

Any time someone behaves in a reckless, amoral, or wasteful way, they are engaging in profligate behavior. It usually refers to financial behavior but can cross over to social activity as well. A person who is a slave to their cravings and whose behavior is unrestrained and selfish can be called a profligate.

Extravagantly profligate behavior is often wildly fun but usually comes with a heavy price to pay in the morning, both financially and morally.–

promulgate(v.) to proclaim, make known (The film professor promulgated that both in terms of sex appeal and political intrigue, Sean Connery’s James Bond was

superior to Roger Moore’s.)

propensity (n.) an inclination, preference (Dermit has a propensity for dangerous activities such as bungee jumping.)

propitious (adj.) favorable (The dark storm clouds visible on the horizon suggested that the weather would not be propitious for sailing.)

proscribe (v.) to condemn, outlaw (The town council voted to proscribe the sale of alcohol on weekends.)To proscribe something is to forbid or prohibit it, as a school principal might proscribe the use of cell phones in class.

Proscribe sounds similar to the word prescribe, but be careful: these words are essentially opposite in meaning. While proscribe means forbid, prescribe is

used when a doctor recommends a medicine or remedy. Of course, if you want an excuse for not following your doctor’s orders, you could say you were

confused about the meaning of these two words — but that would be lying, which is proscribed by most people’s value systems. And it would also be bad for

your health.–

protean (adj.) able to change shape; displaying great variety (Among Nigel’s protean talents was his ability to touch the tip of his nose with his tongue.)When Picasso is described as a protean genius, it means that not only was he brilliant, but he changed the way he worked many times. Protean means able to

change shape.

Proteus was a Greek god who could tell the future, but when he was asked a question he didn’t want to answer, he would change shapes. With someone or something protean, you get all the power of shape-shifting, plus some of the menace of a god you cannot control.–

prurient (adj.) eliciting or possessing an extraordinary interest in sex (David’s mother was shocked by the discovery of prurient reading material hidden beneath her son’s mattress.)Something is prurient if it focuses attention on sex not in an artistic way or to teach something, but purely to appeal to your baser instincts. If something is prurient, it’s sure to offend somebody.

An MTV series that includes explicit teenage sex scenes might be considered prurient and have censors screaming to have it taken off the air. The word prurient comes from a Latin root that means literally, “to itch,” and you may have heard the medical term pruritus, which means “severe itching.” The word can also be used to describe any kind of perverse interest, like onlookers who have a prurient curiosity about the details of a particularly gory crime scene.–

Puerile – (adj.) juvenile, immature (The judge demanded order after the lawyer’s puerile attempt to object by stomping his feet on the courtroom floor.)Some people like their movies to have sophisticated humor and others prefer the more puerile humor of pratfalls or jokes about smelly underwear, inappropriate belching, and passing gas.

Although the adjective, puerile can be used to describe anything related to childhood, more often than not, it is used in a derisive manner to comment on the immaturity, silliness, or juvenile nature of something or someone. So if you hear someone talk about puerile toys, they may merely be remarking on the toys of childhood, but it is more likely they are discussing whoopee cushions, fake dog poo, and the like.

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pugnacious – (adj.) quarrelsome, combative (Aaron’s pugnacious nature led him to start several barroom brawls each month.)Pugnacious means ready for a fight. If you’re a first year teacher, you probably don’t know how to deal with the pugnacious kids in every class. Learn some discipline or they’ll end up fighting you, or each other.

Your brother is a pugnacious thug––always ready to use his fists to settle arguments, and he has the strength to do so. That’s the literal sense of pugnacious. You can use pugnacious figuratively, too. When two candidates face off in a debate during a close election, one or the other might be pugnacious. He looks to pick a fight with his opponent and is willing to say almost anything, no matter how outrageous, to make his opponent look bad.–

pulchritude (n.) physical beauty (Several of Shakespeare’s sonnets explore the pulchritude of a lovely young man.)If someone comments on the pulchritude of your face, you shouldn’t be offended. It may sound like quite the opposite, but pulchritude actually means “beauty.”

Pulchritude is one of those words that is more often commented upon for its oddness than actually used in its intended meaning. Many people dislike the sound of this word or are surprised to find that it is a synonym of beauty. These days pulchritude is considered outdated and is usually only used in highly literary writing or, in more common writing, to achieve a witty effect.–

punctilious – (adj.) eager to follow rules or conventions (Punctilious Bobby, hall monitor extraordinaire, insisted that his peers follow the rules.)A punctilious person pays attention to details. Are you always precisely on time? Is your room perfectly neat? Do you never forget a birthday or a library book’s due date? Then you are one of the punctilious people.

The adjective punctilious, pronounced “punk-TIL-ee-us,” is related to the Italian word puntiglio, meaning “fine point.” For someone who is punctilious no point is too fine, no detail too small, to be overlooked. The word is often used to describe people, but it can be used more broadly to apply to observations, behavior, or anything else that is characterized by close attention to detail.–